We’re supposed to get ten more inches today, starting at noon. But it’s 1:30 and nothing has happened yet.
Fingers crossed.
We’ve got supplies enough, and the dogs (I’ve got Rio and my best friends’ dog) are going to manage just fine, even though they’ve been trapped in the house way too long. I hope my husband can come home soon. I really don’t want to be snowed in without him.
Whine, whine, whine.
Times like these, I wish I’d never left Florida.
I just want to curl up with a cup of something hot and read. I’ve found I’m lately in the mood for a sappy love story. Any suggestions? Doesn’t have to be a romance-shelved-as-a-romance. Maybe your favorite love story takes place in a mystery. Or a sci fi. Or even over the course of a series. What’s your fave? What do you recommend I read on this cold winter’s week?
ETA: It’s now 5 o’clock and it’s been snowing for an hour. Sigh. Also, thought I’d add that I’m really looking for great love stories, not just great stories that have some love in them. I mean, most of them do, right? But I’m specifically looking for stories where the romance really grabs you by the throat.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
“The Silver Metal Lover” by Tanith Lee. Really wonderful.
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February 9th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
‘Wings of Desire’ by Nancy Springer. probably not in print anymore, but STILL the story that tears me up the most.
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February 9th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I would recommend Jennifer Estep’s “Bigtime” series — KARMA GIRL, HOT MAMA, and JINX. Or her latest book (as in just came out), SPIDER’S BITE.
I might also suggest David Weber’s Honor Harrington series. Not much in the way of romance (at least not until the most recent book), but always plenty of action.
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February 9th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Anne of the Island. (Although the buildup starts in Anne of Green Gables, of course.)
I have a lot of favourite romantic stories, but Anne and Gilbert’s is the only one that makes my stomach fluttery TO THIS DAY.
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February 9th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Ah yes, JJ. I love AotI. I think we talked about this? Or maybe just about Phil?
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February 9th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
We’ve talked about Phil, but I did not realize you were also a huge Anne fan! Kindred spirits!
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February 9th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
LOL! As if I somehow arrived at the multiple readings of Anne of hte Island necessary to become a true Phil fan without also liking Anne some? I love Anne, until she becomes an idiot at the end of Ingleside. To be fair, she always showed a few flaky tendencies, but flaky tendencies at 20 in college and flaky tendencies after 10 years of marriage at six kids (eight?) when your husband’s had a rough night one night are two ENTIRELY different things.
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February 9th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
For me the series actually ends at ANNE’S HOUSE OF DREAMS. When it gets to be about their children, I get very bored, although will say I really love Rilla of Ingleside.
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February 9th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
I love pretty much anything Jennifer Crusie writes, but had never read THE CINDERELLA DEAL. It went out of print eons ago (maybe 15?) and it was the only Crusie book I could never get my hands on until it was re-issued by St. Martins last week. I devoured it on Superbowl Sunday and loved it. Apparently so have a lot of people, since it hit #11 on the NYT bestseller list in its first week out. Anyway, it’s a fun, sweet read for a cold winter’s day!
Tawna
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February 9th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
The snow has begun
Lets hope they’re wrong about the amount!
You can’t go wrong with Elizabeth Scott for some great romance and kissing but for sweeping romance I ‘d go with Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught.
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February 9th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
I am noting all these down.
Alexa, I have tried Outlander. Gabaldon’s style is not my cup of tea, unfortunately. TO each her own.
And gah, the snow! The snow!
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February 9th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
I don’t know if it’s necessarily sappy, but a good read is always “Court Duel” and “Crown Duel” by Sherwood Smith. The romance really isn’t front and center, but it’s phenomenal YA fantasy without the vampires. And my favorite couple with always be Torin Kerr and Craig Ryder from Tanya Huff’s valor novels, but again, not a sappy romance, so I’m not sure it qualifies. Still, kick-butt heroine, wise-cracking hero, and as much Marine gallows humor as you can handle.
Sorry you’re buried in a world of white out there.
If push comes to shove, I guess you could take up cross-country skiing? Or fashion some doggy snow shoes for Rio? I hear they’re all the rage.
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February 9th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
In case you’re considering my Crusie suggestion, she wrote a really cool blog post the other day about the origins of THE CINDERELLA DEAL:
http://www.arghink.com/2010/02/01/the-cinderella-deals-evil-twin/
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February 9th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart (romance happens in a mystery)
A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson (romance happens in the Amazon/ballet company)
Perfect Chemistry (romance happens a la West Side Story)
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February 9th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Tawna, that is very interesting. Jenny Crusie gives good blog post. I feel it’s only fair to warn you, however, that I have failed in every attempt I have ever made to read her fiction. I know, it makes no sense to me either. I like how she talks about her writing, I like dogs, I like humor, I like genre, I like Buffy, I like all of it. But somehow I have never clicked with her books.
Though kudos to her on a NYT bestselling REPRINT. WOWZA!
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February 9th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
I absolutely love “Something Blue” by Emily Giffin, but you have to read “Something Borrowed” first to truly appreciate the metamorphosis of Darcy, one of the main characters. Both books are about finding love in unexpected places.
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February 9th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Ooh, ooh, I read those, Shannon! In fact, I even met Emily Giffin and gushed like a fangirl.
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February 9th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Diana – anything by Juliet Marillier. Actually, go with Daughter of the Forest (the first book in the sevenwater series), or Heir to Sevenwaters (fourth book in the series, but you can read it without reading the others). Or Wildwood Dancing or Cybelle’s Secret (which are both YA, but beautifully romantic too).
Marillier is my go-to whenever I’m in a mood for a haunting, satisfying romance!
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February 9th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Ooh. *nods* Yes. What Thea said. Read Daughter of the Forest!
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February 9th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Diana,
Though I worship at the alter of Crusie and recommend her to everyone, I’ve learned that not everyone adores her writing. It’s a peculiar phenomenon, really — readers who consistently share my taste in books often end up not loving the Crusie titles I throw their way. Not sure what that’s about, but clearly she has no shortage of fans, so it must just be a matter of taste. For what it’s worth, CINDERELLA definitely had a different tone to it than her other books, so maybe it would end up being your cup of tea.
Good luck with the snowstorm! I’m sure you’ll love whichever books you cozy up with on the couch.
Tawna
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February 9th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Katherine by Anya Seton. It’s old. It’s wonderful. Based on the relationship between John of Gault (one of those Plantagenets) and Katherine Swinford. It’s still in print.
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February 10th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I didn’t think of it until quite some time after I posted my last comment, but I would recommend Julie Kenner’s “Protector” series — APHRODITE’S KISS, APHRODITE’S PASSION, APHRODITE’S SECRET, and APHRODITE’S FLAME.
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February 10th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
I just read Eternal Hunter by Cynthia Eden a few days back and loved it! Awesome romance, awesome suspense! Very highly recommended!
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February 10th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Oh, or anything by Cindy Miles. Her romances always put a smile on my face
Try Into Thin Air. Trust me 
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February 11th, 2010 at 5:21 am
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